One of the busiest stations, the Old Goa police station is simply unable to cater to the growing needs of the police station and authorities are now on the lookout for about 5000 sq mtrs in the area for a state-of-art police station
A board that reads ‘May I help you’ on one desk of the Old Goa police station could well be replaced by ‘Can you help me’, given the state of affairs at the one of the busiest police stations in the State.
The current premises at the police station is simply unable to cater to the growing needs of the police station and authorities are now on the lookout for about 5000 sq mtrs in the area for a state-of-art police station.
The Old Goa police station presently caters to over 1.1 lakh people spread across the villages of Old Goa, Corlim, Carambolim, Merces, St Cruz, Chorao, Ribandar, Diwar, St Estevam, Gaundalim and Cumbarjua. In addition, it also handles two police outposts at Ribandar and Chorao.
Besides acute staff shortage, the Old Goa police station also suffers from poor infrastructure. The recent decision to set up a women’s desk in every police station of the State has forced women police constables at the Old Goa police station to share the same desk used by their male counterparts to register other complaints. Besides, the desk is located in the verandah of the police station. Panjim Sub-Divisional Police Officer DySP Umesh Gaonkar is aware of the difficulties faced at the Old Goa police station.
“It’s a peculiar situation for my officers at the Old Goa police station, as local authorities have been unable so far to help us find suitable land for a police station in and around Old Goa. We now request elected representatives, North Goa MP, the local MLA or elected panchas to help us find suitable space in Old Goa,” said DySP Gaonkar.
“It is our fervent appeal to local authorities to come forward and help the state police officials identify land for a police station in the larger interest of people in the area. We would be happy to get any suitable land in Baiguinim, Old Goa, near Kadamba highway, Corlim or Carambolim, provided the area is a minimum of 5000 sq mtrs,” he added.
“It’s sad that the Old Goa police station is crying for help and yet, no one is coming forward to help us. I tend to feel that the earlier police station at Ribandar was better than the present one at Old Goa, as we did not benefit in any major way after shifting the police station to Old Goa. It pains me to see my officers disheartened due to lack of space to place tables, no proper place to sit, no proper barracks and also no proper toilets,” said DySP.
According to sources, frequent representations have been made to higher authorities for a complete renovation of the Old Goa police station, till suitable land is made available for a new police station. Despite these requests, there has been no approval from the government till date.
If the situation does not improve in the near future, the Old Goa police station could well collapse well before the many centuries old sites in the vicinity.
